First! 8 hotels that changed the industry

By Kristen McKenzie, for CNN

Updated 0658 GMT (1358 HKT) April 14, 2014

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Electric Xmas tree: Hotel del Coronado – Currently celebrating its 125th anniversary, this scenic beachside resort made jaws drop back in December 1904 when it unveiled the world's first electronically lit, outdoor Christmas tree.

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En-suite bathrooms: The Goring Hotel – The Goring is widely considered one of the top luxury hotels on the planet and when it first opened back in 1910, each bedroom was fitted with en-suite bathrooms -- something that had never been seen before at any other accommodation property.

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In-room radios: Boston Park Plaza Hotel – When this Boston property opened back in 1927, it was the first hotel to provide guest radios in each room, a feature that had never been offered on such a wide scale before.

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Room service: The Waldorf Astoria – The iconic Waldorf Astoria is renowned for many things including its Art Deco motifs, Waldorf salad and plethora of celebrity guests. But what truly revolutionized the hospitality industry was its introduction of room service in the early 1930s.

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Minibars: Hilton Hong Kong – Countless thirsty travelers saved and their wallets thinned -- all thanks to one Hilton executive who, in 1974, was inspired to stock overpriced liquors in all 840 rooms, in the Hilton's Hong Kong property.The minibar invention was said to have led to a 500% increase in room-service drink sales and a 5% boost to the company's net income that year.

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Air conditioning: Adolphus Hotel – In 1950, The Adolphus became the first hotel in the world to offer central air conditioning. In-room air-conditioning for warm climate hotels has since become a commonplace comfort.

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Soap and shampoo: Four Seasons London – Prior to 1970, hotel guests who forgot their own toiletries would have been out of luck. It wasn't until the Four Seasons London at Park Lane opened its doors that lodgers were first introduced to the concept of bathroom amenities such as shampoo.

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Carbon neutral: Wolgan Valley Resort – As the first carbon neutral-certified resort in the world, this high-end, multi award-winning getaway in the Blue Mountains single-handedly introduced the concept of responsible luxury travel to the world in October 2009, proving that green, eco-friendly accommodation could also be indulgent.

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Story highlights

The Goring Hotel, known for hosting British royals, introduced the concept of en-suite bathrooms in 1910

Central air-conditioning was first offered in Dallas's Adolphus Hotel in 1950

Bathroom toiletries for guests were unheard of before the opening of Four Seasons Park Lane

From minibars to pillow menus to 24-hour butlers, today's hotels have turned every indulgence and convenience into a standard necessity.

But this wasn't always the case. Not long ago, those little shampoo bottles that people now love to swipe didn't even exist.

Renowned for having hosted various members of the royal family throughout the years (Kate Middleton even stayed here the night before her wedding to William), the Goring is widely considered one of the top luxury hotels on the planet.

Till this opened, hotel guests had to share bathrooms.

However, when it first opened back in 1910, what really wowed the travel industry was that each bedroom was fitted with en-suite bathrooms -- something that had never been seen before at any other accommodation property.

Needless to say, The Goring's early guests were delighted not to have to queue up for the toilet any longer.

When this Boston property opened back in 1927, it was the first hotel to provide guest radios in each room, a feature that had never been offered on such a wide scale before.

To put this in perspective, the radio in the late 1920s was extremely popular among Americans and was increasingly becoming a main source for news, entertainment and music -- similar to what the TV and Internet would become for later generations.

It wasn't until 1933 that two-thirds of Americans would own a radio set at home, so to have one available in one's hotel room in 1927 was quite a prospect.

Forgot to pack shampoo for your getaway? Not to worry -- most hotels these days have plenty of mini toiletry bottles on hand to keep you lathered up throughout your stay.

Prior to 1970, however, hotel guests would have been out of luck.

It wasn't until the Four Seasons London at Park Lane opened its doors that lodgers were first introduced to the concept of bathroom amenities such as shampoo.

And even then, the very first shampoo offerings at the Four Seasons Park Lane were plastic little sachets that were difficult to rip open. Don't take those handy little hotel bottles for granted again!

As the first carbon neutral-certified resort in the world, this high-end, multi award-winning getaway in Australia's Blue Mountains single-handedly introduced the concept of responsible luxury travel to the world in October 2009, proving that green, eco-friendly accommodation could also be indulgent.